Soaring Jets Ride Early Momentum, but Veteran Forwards Still Searching for Stride

Winnipeg Jets off to Hot Start, But Questions Remain

The Winnipeg Jets have burst out of the gates with two straight wins to open the 2025-26 NHL season. Led by their top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Nino Niederreiter, the Jets have looked impressive in the early going.

Key Moments

In their 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, Scheifele scored the game-tying and game-winning goals to lead the Jets to the win. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck also turned in a strong 30-save performance.

The Jets then followed that up with a 5-2 road win against the New York Islanders. Defenseman Logan Stanley scored his first goal in nearly a year, while the team's depth players like Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson also contributed.

Player Impact

Scheifele has been dominant early on, recording 5 points (2G, 3A) in the first two games. Linemates Connor and Niederreiter have also chipped in offensively.

However, some of the Jets' veteran forward additions, such as Gustav Nyquist and Vladislav Namestnikov, have yet to find their stride. Nyquist in particular has struggled, posting below-average possession metrics and failing to generate much offense.

TL;DR

  • Winnipeg Jets off to 2-0 start behind strong play from top line
  • Mark Scheifele leading the way with 5 points in first two games
  • Some veteran forwards, including Nyquist and Namestnikov, still searching for consistency